The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has expressed its regret over what it perceives as President Jonathan ‘s dictatorial tendency.
It said that that this tendency was unfolding this early in his administration in which he adopted executive fiat in acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (ACN) was subjudice, arbitrary and meant to frustrate the suit filed by Justice Ayo Salami.
The CNPP said: “we are at a loss if the heavens would have fallen if President Jonathan had not descended into the arena, asserted the age old independence of the judiciary and allowed time for the court process to run its full course.”
It is our considered view that by descending into the arena, Mr. President has not only violated the constitution, but has exposed his interest in manipulating the Presidential and Governorship Elections Tribunal, where the President of the Court of Appeal is a key actor”
The CNPP further said that it was yet to locate the vacancy as stipulated by Section 238 of the constitution which the President relied on in easing Justice Ayo Salami out of office.
In acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) without the express address of the two-thirds majority of the Senate, as stipulated in the Constitution, CNPP said that the President has violated the constitution he vowed to protect.
Also, Access to Justice (AJ) said in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP that President Jonathan was wrong to have followed an “obnoxious” example set by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
It stressed that the appointment of an Acting President of the Court of Appeal contradicted his rule of law policy.
AJ also faulted President Jonathan for ignoring the duty placed on him to await the determination of the application for an injunction against him and added that the President has followed the obnoxious and widely-denounced example set by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
“Mr. President, with his action, has circumvented his administration’s flagship policy of abiding by the rule of law and respecting the adjudicational authority of the courts. This will have a hugely negative effect on the public perception of the bona fide of his rule-of-law policy and will shake the confidence people have in his government”, the group said.
Access to Justice further said that Jonathan risked losing international respect his administration has struggled to win in this area and warned him to remember that the strength and stability of the country’s judiciary, as well as the government’s respect for the rule of law were key benchmarks for attracting or retaining foreign investments.
The group further said that his decision would undermine global perception that Nigeria was making progress after years of mis-governance, misrule and disrespect for human rights.
“We urge the President to show greater consistency, statesmanship and forthrightness in his avowed respect for the rule of law and demonstrate his administration’s unfledging adherence to that policy irrespective of whatever short-term benefits that might accrue from departing from it in any instance.
“President Jonathan should remember at all times that Nigeria is far greater than the strategic interests of even a ruling party. Access to Justice urges the President to reverse this appointment immediately and await the court’s determination of the legality of the suspension of Justice Ayo Salami as President of the Court of Appeal by the NJC or the court’s ruling on the application for an injunction against his making a decision to that effect” the group said.